3 Run Walk-Off Blast Lifts Volcanoes Over Everett

After a 44-minute rain delay, Everett jumped on the board behind a double, two walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch.

20-year old slugger Shilo McCall blasted a three run home run well over the left field wall with two outs in the ninth. Photo Courtesy: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

(KEIZER, Ore. ) - The Volcanoes went into the bottom of the ninth facing a two run deficit Wednesday night, and they once again came through in their final at bat, defeating the Everett AquaSox 5-4 at Volcanoes Stadium.

All three runs came off the bat of the 20-year old slugger Shilo McCall, who blasted a three run home run well over the left field wall with two outs in the ninth.

"You get amped up for those at bats, you get extra focus, and I'm glad I could come through for the team," McCall said. "We really needed to win this series."

Coming out of the gates, Volcanoes starter Nick Gonzalez did not look sharp. After a 44-minute rain delay, Everett jumped on the board behind a double, two walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch. However, a double play off the bat of Kyle Petty helped Gonzalez escape the inning having only given up one run.

The Volcanoes looked like they could respond after Everett starting pitcher Ramire Cleto began his outing with back to back walks, but Cleto was able to compose himself, retiring Geno Escalante, McCall and Fernado Pujadas in order.

The AquaSox scratched across another run in the top of the third inning, increasing their lead to 2-0. Chris Mariscal roped a single into left field, and Petty doubled down left field line scoring Planas-Atreaga, who reached on a fielders choice the at bat before.

This time, Salem-Keizer was able to respond. After a Brett Kay walk, a T Relaford single and a Sheehan Planas-Arteaga error off the bat of Geno Escalante, McCall came to bat with the bases loaded. McCall bounced a ball to shortstop, but was able to just beat out what would have been an inning ending double play, and the Volcanoes were on the board.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Volcanoes had an opportunity to break through. After chasing the starter Cleto from the game, the hot hitting Pujadas came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. Pujadas drilled a ball to the second basemen Luis Caballero, who was able to stick with a tough hop and retire Pujadas at first.

Still down 2-1, the new Volcanoes catcher, Jared Deacon, lined his first hit down the left field line for a two out double. Next to bat was Brett Kay, who skied a routine fly ball into right field. Planas-Arteaga immediately threw his arms in the air signaling that he had lost sight of the ball, as it dropped behind him for a game tying RBI double.

After Cameron McVey relieved Gonzalez with two shutout innings, Kirk Singer took the mound for the Volcanoes in the top of the eighth.

To begin the frame, Singer allowed back-to-back singles to Planas-Arteaga and Petty and walked Phillips Castillo to load the bases. Following a Luke Guarnaccia strikeout, Singer uncorked a wild pitch to give the AquaSox a 3-2 lead. Then with two outs and runners on second and third, Taylor smart slashed a single into right field. Petty came around to score, but a perfect throw from right fielder McCall gunned down Castillo at the plate.

McCall's throw kept the AquaSox lead at just two, which proved key for his at bat in the bottom of the ninth.

Brett Kay got the bottom of the ninth started with a lead off single to right. With one out, Relaford recorder his third hit of the night with a line drive single up the middle. Volcanoes manager Gary Davenport then sent the man who had already recorded to walk off hits this season, Craig Massoni, to the plate as a pinch hitter. Massoni took a called three strike, paving way for a new hero to emerge.

On a 2-1 pitch, McCall destroyed a Cruz Pereira pitch down the left field. It was clear the ball was going over the fence; the only question was whether or not it would stay fair. Indeed, the ball wrapped around the left field foul pole and landed well over the wall, for a walk off three run homer.

"That was awesome," McCall said. "It doesn't get much better than that."

T Relaford had a solid night at the plate, going 3-4 with a walk and coming across the plate as the tying run on McCall's thee run shot.

Brett Kay also scored on McCall's blast, and successfully reached base in all four of his plate appearances.

Up Next: The Volcanoes travel to Eugene to face the 5-7 Emeralds. Ethan Miller will toe the rubber for the Volcanoes and will be opposed by Logan Jernigan.

Source: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes